We’re struggling too…

The Anti-Boring Toolkit was initially designed for students in middle school through university. However, elementary educators and graduate school coaches have also enjoyed the training. The truth is that every student needs this toolkit, and even older students appreciate the anti-boring nature of the strategies.

Yes! In fact, the tools were initially designed to support students with learning differences such as ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, autism, and so many others.

Over the 15+ years that we’ve been training educators, we’ve noticed two significant patterns — teachers often lecture too much, and academic coaches often don't teach enough. As a result, teachers benefit from incorporating some elements of student-centered coaching into their teaching practice, and coaches benefit from learning the art of a well-placed lecture and how to teach specific skills to students.

We’ve created a training program that helps educators learn both the art of coaching and the art of the mini-lecture which is our signature approach to sharing the Anti-Boring tools as simply and effectively as possible.

We reference coaching often because it de-centers common assumptions about the role of the teacher in classroom life.

Along with academic coaches and classroom teachers, a myriad of other kinds of educators have been raving about how this toolkit helps them be more efficient and effective in their work with students: educational therapists, occupational therapists, learning specialists, special ed teachers, school counselors, college admissions counselors, university learning center staff, school psychologists, therapists, independent study teachers, tutors, homeschool educators, and so many more!

Yes! We have organized the entire Anti-Boring Study Skills Toolkit into micro-credentials so you can focus your learning around which skills will be most useful for your students in your context. Take what you like and leave the rest! However, many educators opt to learn the entire Toolkit in order to reap the benefits of becoming a Licensed Anti-Boring Coach.

These benefits include: a certificate of completion, access to our Anti-Boring Approach to Powerful Studying online course to share with your students, a library of resources you can use with your students, an exclusive badge to add to your website to show off your training, the opportunity to be shown off on our newsletter and website, and ongoing membership in one of the most supportive and invigorating professional learning communities in the world!

Most educators become licensed Anti-Boring Coaches within one year of joining the program, though you could complete the requirements in less time depending on your availability.

It turns out that spaced practice over time is the “magic” behind learning new skills. So many professional development programs teach you the tools but expect you to be self-sufficient as you practice including them in your teaching context over time. At the Anti-Boring Learning Lab, we provide both the toolkit and the time.

We know a full year seems like a long time. Because that’s what I’ve noticed it takes to learn the tools, practice teaching them, and getting support as you hone your new teaching and coaching skills. I’ve priced the program to actually be incredibly cost effective given that it’s a full year. Even if you only show up to half the training calls over that year, as long as you are practicing the tools in your classroom or coaching sessions throughout the year, you will still have gotten full value from the course.

Yes! We will give you a micro-credential for each module you complete in the program as well as for your time spent participating in community calls. We are able to provide resource hours for the International Coaching Federation (ICF) but you might like to check in with our office staff to find out the details of this program, which are ever evolving.

No problem! Many members of the Anti-Boring Learning Lab are not able to make the community calls live. They comment that even just watching the recordings of the calls is rejuvenating, insightful, and transformative.

You are always welcome to email questions and concerns ahead of time, and we will address them in the call and then time stamp the calls so that you can easily find the discussion about your situation. In order to receive credit for attendance, you can watch the recordings in the online portal and then comment meaningfully below the recording to show that you participated. We also have a monthly unrecorded Boost Call at different times each month, to provide an additional touchpoint to folks who can’t make the regular call times.

Great! That’s totally possible. Gretchen has spoken for students, trained faculty/staff, and served as a consultant focusing on the Anti-Boring toolkit and transforming school/organizational culture at all levels from elementary through medical school!

Please reach out to us here and we will schedule a chat ASAP.